§ Sir Ivan LawrenceTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of(a) absconds from open conditions and (b) temporary leave failures for the Prison Service for 1992–93, and for each subsequent year. [15512]
Miss Widdeombe[holding answer 17 February 1997]: Responsibility for this matter has been delegated to the Director General of the Prison Service, who has been asked to arrange for a reply to be given.
530WLetter from Richard Tilt to Sir Ivan Lawrence dated 18 February 1997:
The Home Secretary has asked me to reply to your recent Question asking what were the numbers of (a) absconds from open conditions and (b) temporary leave failures for the Prison Service for 1992–93, and for each subsequent year.The information requested is attached.
Absconds from open conditions1 Number 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 1,432 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 1,403 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 1,192 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 947 1 April 1996 to 31 March 1997 886 1The above figures include absconds from establishments which have both an open and closed element.
Temporary release failures1 Number 1 April 1992 to 31 March 1993 3,378 1 April 1993 to 31 March 1994 2,740 1 April 1994 to 31 March 1995 1,825 1 April 1995 to 31 March 1996 438 1 April 1996 to 31 January 1997 220 1The above are prisoners who failed to return and were reported to the police as unlawfully at large.